Coal Creek Drive Bank Protection

Lewis County

Lewis County, Washington

Infrastructure and Pipeline Protection

Coal Creek Drive ends at the Cowlitz River northeast of the town of Packwood. Since 2003, the river has eroded approximately 80-150 feet into the left bank, including the roadway, private property, and several structures. Lewis County retained NHC to design a long-term solution to stabilize the bank and prevent the Cowlitz River from eroding further into Coal Creek Drive and dozens of surrounding properties. FEMA authorized funding for final design and construction in February 2018 and NHC immediately began the design so a solution could be permitted and built in the summer of 2018, preventing the loss of additional homes in the coming flood season. The design included a 600-foot-long continuous log structure to arrest the active bank erosion and enhance aquatic habitat. The project team collaborated on-site during construction to complete the project within the permitted timeframe and under budget. The project has since received two awards, one from the Timberline Community, and another from APWA Washington Chapter as the 2019 Project of the Year for Emergency Less than $5M.

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